Iran and Hezbollah Experts Direct Houthi Operations in Yemen, Minister Reveals
Yemeni Interior Minister General Ibrahim Ali Haidan revealed that 21 military experts from Iran's IRGC and Hezbollah are directly commanding Houthi operations in Yemen, sparking political fallout in Lebanon and regional diplomatic efforts.
At least 21 foreign military experts, including 14 members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and seven operatives from Lebanon's Hezbollah, are operating directly inside Yemen alongside the Houthis, according to Yemeni Interior Minister General Ibrahim Ali Haidan. Citing intelligence data, Haidan revealed that these foreign experts are running command cells, drone operations, and attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, effectively functioning as a full military general staff.
The experts from Iran and Lebanon are directly overseeing Houthi military and naval operations, including the deployment of ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare systems, and weapons smuggling networks. Intelligence indicates that the 21 specialists are deployed across six strategic provinces in Yemen, with eight stationed in the coastal governorate of Hodeidah, four in the capital Sanaa, four in Saada, and others in additional regions. A senior IRGC officer operating under diplomatic cover is reportedly heading the network and managing the joint operations room.
Political Fallout and Regional Tensions
The disclosures have triggered significant political turbulence in Lebanon. Hezbollah's media wing issued a sweeping denial, dismissing the allegations as entirely groundless and claiming that Yemeni forces possess independent capabilities to defend their country. Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a sharp condemnation, warning Hezbollah against foreign adventures and stressing that decisions of war and peace must remain exclusively in the hands of the state.
Saudi Arabia and Houthi Demands
Amid escalating regional pressures, reports indicate that Saudi Arabia has engaged with the Houthis in an effort to secure a permanent end to hostilities and halt economic and security disruptions. In response, the Houthis have reportedly demanded $51 billion in compensation to cover alleged war damages, alongside an official Saudi recognition of Houthi rule as the central government in Yemen—terms Riyadh is unlikely to accept.
